October 29, 2021October 29, 2021 by thesaffrongael

County Antrim haulage firm helping to export GAA to Paris

Main pic – Pictured on the banks of the River Seine: from left to right – Conor Pelan, Cécile Forin, Fiontan Campbell, Oscar Chadanet and Julie Lepitre (Chairperson)

County Antrim based transport firm HANNON Transport has announced an exciting 3-year sponsorship deal of Paris Gaels GAA, one of mainland Europe’s most successful Gaelic games clubs.

The three-year deal will see HANNON Transport become the exclusive shirt sponsor of all men’s and ladies’ teams including football, hurling, camogie and handball with new home and away jerseys and sports equipment.

Paris Gaels GAA was established in 1995 and was the first club in Continental Europe to be affiliated with the GAA. The club is mostly made up of Irish ex-pats from the business community in Paris, but it has also attracted its fair share of Parisian locals.

Headquartered in Aghalee, HANNON Transport has bases in both Dublin and Rotterdam. The company opened its second mainland Europe hub in Rungis International Food Market just south of Paris in April 2020.

Commenting on the new sponsorship deal, Aodh Hannon, owner and Managing Director of HANNON Transport, said “Over the past 18 years we have been official sponsors of St Mary’s Aghagallon GAA Club in County Antrim. We are delighted to take the next step from local GAA sponsorship to the European continent and look forward to working with Paris Gaels GAA over the next three years supporting the further development of Gaelic Games in Paris.”

Aodh added jokingly “We specialise in transporting the very best of Irish fresh produce to Europe and are more than happy to now help export Gaelic games as well”.

Pictured on the Champs-Élysées in Paris are from left to right – Cécile Forin, Conor Pelan, Fiontan Campbell, Julie Lepitre (Chairperson) and Oscar Chadanet.

HANNON Transport’s young business graduate, Fiontan Campbell, who recently relocated from Aghalee to take up his role in the company’s Paris hub also plays for the Paris Gaels so there is already a strong connection and relationship building between the company, the team and the wider Irish GAA and business community in Paris.

Paris Gaels PRO (Shane Harrison) said, “We are delighted to enter into this sponsorship agreement with HANNON Transport. Paris Gaels is one of the largest GAA clubs on the continent in terms of active playing and non-playing members. This partnership represents a huge step forward for us as we look to grow the club and Gaelic Games in Paris while also maintaining our strong links with the Irish community and Irish businesses. Covid has significantly affected GAA, so we are really looking forward to getting back out on the pitch and playing in our new jerseys sponsored by HANNON Transport”.

October 29, 2021October 29, 2021 by thesaffrongael

Neighbours meet again at the business end of the championship

Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship (semi-final)

Erin’s Own Cargin v Kickham’s Creggan at St Enda’s @2-45

This second semi-final sees last year’s finalists Cargin and Creggan meet at Hightown and the prospect of a repeat of that thrilling contest should entice a big crowd to St Enda’s.

Cargin edged that one in Portglenone last year to claim their third title in succession and the Toome men will be aiming to get the better of the Kickham’s again while their near neighbours will be hoping to overturn last year’s result.

Both sides played their respective quarter-finals at the same venue last weekend with the reigning champions impressing with a big win at the expense of a St Gall’s side who simply couldn’t live with the Toome side while Creggan gained a narrow 1-08 to 0-08 victory at the expense of St John’s.

St John’s had gained a win over Cargin a few weeks previous in the preliminary stages when the Corrigan men travelled to Toome in need of points and gained the win that saw them advance to the semi-final.

The Corrigan men failed to reproduce that form last weekend but despite their shortcomings it took a stunning late save from Creggan net minder Oisin Kerr to deny Conor Johnston’s late strike that would have sent the game into extra time.

Cargin enter this one with a clean bill of health with only Ronan Gribbin doubtful and a strong bench which has been boosted by members of 2019 and 2020 Minor championship winning sides.

Sean Og O’Neill, Pat Shivers, Sean Og Quinn, Eunan Quinn, Benen Kelly and Paudie McLaughlin have seen plenty of senior action this year and are expected to challenge for a starting place on Sunday.

James Laverty, Justin Crozier, Kevin O’ Boyle, Michael McCann, Kevin McShane, Tomas McCann, Jamie Gribbin and Ciaran Bradley are all likely starters for the Toome side while poacher turned goal keeper, Michael Magill should continue as the last line of defence.

Creggan will look to Oisin Kerr, the Johnston brothers, Ricky and Martin, Ethan Carey Small, the Maguire’s, Sam and Aiden, Jamie McCann, Eunan McAteer, Tommy and Conor McCann and Ruairi McCann to spearhead their challenge.

Jamie McCann scored 1-03 in the win over the Johnnies and he is an excellent wing back who loves getting forward while Ruairi McCann scored 0-7 against the Toome men in the 2020 decider and both would need to be at their best if their side are to revenge that result.

Cargin have a potent attack and Tomas McCann has been in the form of his life this year and caused Creggan massive problems from the start in last year’s final while Paudie McLaughlin has emerged as another serious scoring threat for Erin’s Own.

The reigning champions will start this one as favourites by virtue of their success over the last three campaigns but they are likely to face a stiff challenge from a Creggan side who will be aiming to put last year’s defeat behind them.

October 29, 2021October 29, 2021 by thesaffrongael

Unique pairing meet in first semi-final

Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship (semi-final)

Dunsilly Sunday (12.30 pm)

Casement’s Portglenone v St Mary’s Aghagallon

This has the makings of a cracker as Casement’s who came under the radar to gain a win over the 2017 champions Lamh Dhearg last week face the challenge of an Aghagallon side in search of a unique double having claimed the minor title at the same venue a couple of weeks ago.

Casement’s looked in some trouble when they trailed favourites Lamh Dhearg by four points at the half way stage but a Michael Hagan goal early in the second half brought them right back into contention and further goals from Paddy Kelly and substitute Aiden McAleese saw them breast the winning line with a bit to spare.

The Bannsider’s have been familiar participants in the semi-final in recent years and Sundays date is their third year in succession to gain a last four berth and Barry Dillon’s charges will be seeking further progress this time.

Aghagallon won the minor title a few week ago and were fancied by many to progress to the senior semi-final as they faced the challenge of St Brigid’s in the SFC quarter-final and in the event the St Mary’s men delivered.

They trailed the South Belfast men for most of the opening half but a late Conor McAleer score ensured they only trailed by the minimum at the short whistle having played against a stiff breeze in the opening thirty minutes.

Second half goals from Ruairi McCann and a splendid second from Eunan Walsh saw them run out winners in the end to set up a meeting with Portglenone on Sunday.

This one could go either way with Portglenone starting as slight favourites and Jonny Convery, Ronan Delargy, Dermot McAleese, Ruairi Hagan, Niall McKeever, Michael Donnelly, Michael Hagan, Paddy Kelly, Ronan Kelly and Oisin Doherty are the men who can power Casement’s to their second senior final.

The tag of underdogs is unlikely to worry Aghagallon. They are a side who have shown progress year on year and were very impressive last day out. Luke Mulholland in goals is the Antrim number one at present with Aiden Mulholland, Jamie Lamont, David McAlernon, the Lenehan’s, Eunan Walsh, Gareth Magee and, if fit, Adam Loughran the men who could make life very difficult for the Ports.

This one could turn into a shootout between two very potent attacks and the experience of defeat in the previous two semi-finals could be the catalyst to edge Casement’s through but it could be close.

October 29, 2021October 29, 2021 by thesaffrongael

Loughiel go in as favourites to make it 8-in-a-row

Antrim Senior Camogie Final

Loughgiel v Dunloy at Quinn Park, Ballymena

Antrim Senior Camogie Champions Loughgiel bid for their 8^th title on the trot when they take on arch rivals Dunloy in Sunday’s decider in Ballymena. Dunloy were the last side to beat the Shamrocks in the championship knock out stages when they caused a major shock in the opening round in Armoy back in 2013, winning by 3-10 to 1-5 in a thrilling game. The Cuchullains also came out on top a few weeks ago in the round robin stages of the competition, edging out their neighbours in a game without goals on a scoreline of 0-15 to 0-14 in Fr Healey Park

Looking forward to Sunday you get the feeling that if they are to stand any chance of dethroning the champions Dunloy will again have to cut down the Shamrocks goal threat, for it is their ability to chalk up the major scores which set the champions apart from the rest. Although they didn’t score any goals against Dunloy in the round robin game, and only one against Ballycastle, they still managed to chalk up 15 goals overall.

Ballyastle handled them well in the round robin game but in last week’s semi-final they were able to up the pace remarkably and the worry sign for Dunloy was that Rachael Murphy looked sharper than she had done for years, scoring a hat-trick of goals, two of them real rockets. Ballycastle did well to deny Caitrin Dobbin any goals but that is Loughgiel’s great strength is that of one of their star forwards is well contained there is always someone else to step into the breach.

Roisin McCormick played further out the field last week against Ballycastle and she was sensational and is now back to her best after a bit of a dip in form last year, while corner forward Annie Lynn has been the find of the season for the Shamrocks. Pace is a great asset to any sportsperson and Annie has it in abundance, and she is also full of hurling.

Their midfield pairing of county captain Lucia McNaughton and the highly experienced Emma McFadden are formidable and their battle with Dunloy’s Aileen McManus and Chloe Conlon promises to be something special.

At the back Loughgiel have a very solid look about them. With Megan Coyle back in goal,Katie Lynn at full back and Maeve Connolly at centre back they have a strong spine, which is supplemented with stars like Amy Boyle, Charlene Campbell and Shauna Devlin.

The introduction of new blood into the Dunloy team has been vital this season with the likes of Bríd Magill, Cassie McArthur and double All Ireland winner Aine Magill really stepping up to the mark. With Chloe Drain and Katie Molloy forming part of the half back line, McManus and Conlon at midfield and the ever accurate Nicole O’Neill in the half forward line they will carry a real threat and if Aine and Cassie can get really going in the full forward line it should be very interesting.

However I feel everything has to go right for the challengers if they are cause a shock and dethrone the champions. Loughgiel produced their best performance for a long time in last week’s win over Ballycastle. They were tuned in from the very start and if they can reproduce that again on Sunday they will be hot favourites to make it 8-in-a-row.

During the past year Antrim Camogs team built up a team spirit that was as strong as any I have seen in all my years covering GAA. Really strong friendships were built among players from the different teams, but for an hour or so on Sunday a few of those friendships will be tested.

October 29, 2021October 29, 2021 by thesaffrongael

Antrim masters in action this weekend

The Gaelic Masters Association Shield takes place this Saturday at St. Aidan’s GAC Templeport, Co Cavan. Brian White’s Antrim take on Leitrim-Longford Masters in the GMA Challenge Trophy final at 2.00pm while Donegal face Westmeath in the GMA Shield final at 4.00pm. ChrisMcCafferey of Cavan is the man in the middle for the Antrim v Leitrim-Longford game while the referee for the Donegal v Westmeath game is Ray McBrien of Leitrim. Both games will be played to a conclusion.